Community Visits: Enhancing Community Connections
Brief overview of the community visits
The education team conducted visits to RK Puram and Nangloi communities on February 5th and 9th, 2024, respectively. The Director of the organization accompanied the team during the community visit to RK Puram. The purpose of these visits was not only to strengthen community connections but also to conduct a need assessment for the Remedial class students aged 11-15 years. It was deemed necessary to assess and understand their needs as it would further assist in altering the curriculum and objectives of the remedial classes so that the classes become more fruitful and relevant for the students. Currently, in the remedial classes, support is being extended for Mathematics which is in alignment with their school syllabus.
Need assessment of the communities
For conducting the assessments, questionnaires were created, aiding in gathering essential information about the needs of both parents and students. The questionnaire for parents aimed to comprehend their role in their child’s academic journey and explore aspects of their interpersonal relationships. For students, the focus was on understanding their socio-emotional needs, and future aspirations, and collecting feedback and opinions about the Project Mukti Remedial classes. The goal was to identify ways the classes can be enhanced further to ensure they contribute to the student's achievement of their career and future goals.
One-on-one interviews were conducted with the parents in both communities, while group discussions were undertaken with the students. Some of the common points that came out from the discussions with the parents and students, of both communities, was that extracurricular activities play an important role in the holistic development of a child and Mathematics and Science are two subjects where students need extended support. Further details of the assessments are outlined below:
In conversation with parents
Community visits: Understanding needs firsthand, one doorstep at a time. #CommunityAssessment"
RK Puram, Delhi: In RK Puram, the Director of the organization along with the facilitator and curriculum developer conducted interviews with the parents, who have more than one child attending Remedial classes.
Academic need: During the conversations, it was noted that although mostly all the students are attending tuition, the parents feel that their children still need academic support, especially in Mathematics and Science.
Extracurricular activities: All the parents expressed the need and importance of extracurricular activities such as dance, theatre, reading sessions, etc. They immensely appreciated the annual cultural event, “Ukkattha”, organized by Project Mukti which included the components of the aforementioned activities. So they suggested having these extracurricular activities regularly as it would help in nurturing and developing a child’s overall personality.
Community Library: The idea of establishing a community library was explored with the parents, and they seemed quite excited about it. They assured their support in terms of identifying a space and exploring the possibility of utilizing the community hall.
Promoting extracurricular activities: 🎨🏀 Fostering children's interests, enhancing engagement in classes through parent dialogue and insights. #ParentalPerspectives #StudentEnrichment"
Nangloi, Delhi: In Nangloi, the facilitator and curriculum developer conducted interviews with the parents, who have more than one child attending Remedial classes.
Academic needs: The parents shared that all of their children attend tuition and they regularly participate in parent-teacher meetings (PTMs) at school. They also have frequent discussions with their tuition teachers regarding the academic progress of their children. Furthermore, most parents expressed the view that their children needed support in almost all subjects. While tuition does help in improving their academic results, at times, due to financial constraints, they cannot afford to send their children for tutoring.
Extracurricular activities: Most parents expressed a desire and made requests to arrange extracurricular activities for their children, as they are unable to experience or participate in them at school. Upon further exploration of the reasons, parents shared that, in many cases, school teachers do not consider their children competent enough to participate in extracurricular activities. One parent shared an incident in which her daughter wanted to join a group dance, but her class teacher dissuaded her, stating, 'She should concentrate on her studies. This is not for her.’
In conversation with Students
Providing remedial classes: 📚 Bridging gaps, nurturing potential, ensuring academic success. #AcademicSupport"
RK Puram, Delhi: In RK Puram, the Director of the organization had a group discussion with the students wherein she shared her own academic experiences emphasizing the importance of education.
How their day looked: Discussions were held to understand how children are spending their day and how they manage their studies and other activities. The purpose was to understand if they were getting time for themselves. Most children shared that their days are usually packed between school, tuition, and Project Mukti classes. However, they manage to take two hours a day for themselves to play cricket, ride bicycles, etc.
Academic needs: Mostly, the students expressed that they need academic support in Mathematics and Science. The Director then asked the students to conduct a KWL (Know, Want-to-know, and Learned) activity wherein they need to go through their Mathematics and Science textbooks and mark topics which they know (K), which they do not know at all (W) and which they are clear about (L). Specific colors were also suggested for each category.
Importance of Education: The Director highlighted the significance of education during the discussion, noting that completing one's school education is crucial. She sensed that students were still grappling with understanding the importance of school education and the necessity of obtaining at least a high school diploma. The Director emphasized that basic literacy skills like reading, writing, and speaking are essential, even for those aspiring to start their own businesses.
Nangloi, Delhi: In Nangloi, the facilitator and curriculum developer held a group discussion with the students and found that all the students have to travel at least 45 minutes to reach school.
How their day looked: The students shared that they do manage to take out “me time” which is generally spent playing on the phone, drawing, games, etc. but they feel the need to learn specific skills or engage in a hobby such as dance, singing, drama, etc. They added that such activities will foster creativity and offer them a platform for self-expression.
Academic needs: Mostly the students expressed that the areas where they need improvement are Mathematics and Science. Also, a few students mentioned that the fatigue resulting from walking to school, which sometimes takes an hour one way, leaves them feeling tired and exhausted. This exhaustion, they explained, makes it challenging for them to focus and concentrate during school hours.
Conclusion
Following the community visits and gaining insights into the community's challenges and needs, the organization's Director and the team collectively decided to formulate a comprehensive community engagement plan. This plan centers on offering extracurricular activities such as sports, self-defense classes, story-telling, reading sessions, dance, music, community library visits, and conducting weekly sessions covering diverse topics for both parents and students.
Additionally, the Remedial students were encouraged to undertake a KWL activity focused on Mathematics and Science. This activity would be crucial in further planning and structuring of curriculum and classes.